Taco Time Northwest
Taco Time Northwest, or simply Taco Time, is a fast-food restaurant with numerous locations in Western Washington.
History
The Renton, Washington-based company was founded by Frank Tonkin, Sr. in 1962. Frank Tonkin, Sr.'s interest in the fast food industry was well established when he first learned of the Taco Time concept originating in Eugene, Oregon in 1961. At the time, Tonkin was busy running his own two restaurants, Tonkin's Café, a full-service restaurant and bar, and Bif's, a fast food hamburger restaurant, both located in Renton.
Realizing the potential of the Mexican fast food category, Tonkin took a gamble that Tacos and Burritos would someday be considered mainstream fare. He opened his first Taco Time restaurant in 1962 in White Center with the Alki restaurant following soon after in 1963. In 1979 Western Washington became an independent operation with Tonkin incorporating Accord, Inc., as the franchisor for the region.
Today, the company serves as headquarters to 73 restaurants, spanning from Bellingham to Longview, and including locations in Eastern Washington (Moses Lake and East Wenatchee).